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A new Independent Mental Capacity Advocate service to help vulnerable people who lack capacity to make their own decisions was announced today by health minister Rosie Winterton, writes Clare Jerrom.

The Department of Health has made £6.5 million available to set up the service aimed specifically at vulnerable people who do not have relatives or friends to speak for them.

“The IMCA is an important new safeguard for the most vulnerable people who lack capacity and we want to continue to work closely with interested parties in implementing this service,” said Winterton.

The service will mean that those people who lack capacity such as people with dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, brain injury or a severe learning difficulty will be helped to make difficult decisions such as medical treatment choices or changes to residence.

It was introduced under the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and implementation is planned for April 2007.
 

A three-month consultation was opened at the same time to cover important operational details in setting up the IMCA service including the functions of the IMCA, how to define “serious medical treatment” and whether to extend the services to other groups.

The consultation is available from www.dh.gov.uk